Hi Bob - Seahorse is a cutaway full-keel sailing hull with a rudder which is about 7 x 3 feet. A bit larger than most "trawler" rudders. It's unusual for us to use more than a few degrees of helm to steer her unless docking; it should be relatively easy unless going astern as it is a semi-balanced rudder. The sailboat, like most older designs, does not have any counterbalance at all, and can be a bear when more than a few degrees is needed if the boat isn't balanced. You'll recall that Dennis Conner admonished his helmsmen never to use more than 7 degrees of helm. That is evidently the point where the rudder begins to slow the boat. Regards, John "Seahorse" I have only used emergency tillers in sailboats--but they have larger rudders and for the most part larger forces. **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)